Taro

 Taro is a tropical plant thought to be one of plants first cultivated. Several Taro fields can be found near Princeville and I finally took some photos of these fields. Taro does not have to be grown submerged, but this evidently produces the largest root (gorms).  We have watched workers planting taro by hand and the source I read said most taro is also harvested by hand. I would think this to be hard work. The long distance is shot is a panorama I made from an overlook and is amazing when viewed full sized. 

On this day in 2020

 

On this day in 2020, we left Kauai two-weeks before we had planned because of COVID. It was a scary time and we had no idea what was coming next and how serious the danger was. We were concerned that travel would be shut down and we would be on an island with limited medical facilities. There was no trip in 2021, but we returned this year. COVID is not totally gone and we still wear our masks when inside public places. Now, we watch the news from Ukraine. All in all, our situation is still so much better than that of others. 

Turnips?

 

You get used to finding produce you don't find back in Minneapolis in farmers markets. Or, you encounter things you recognize, but that have grown to an abnormally large size in Kauai. It was the latter case with what appeared to be large radishes. You can see a white version of the same vegetable in the background. It was good we asked. These are turnips. 

Turnips to me don't look like this. They have a pinkish top and a white bottom, but evidently they grow a different variety in Kauai. Now that I own my very own turnip what do I do with it? I know there is some expression about falling off a turnip truck, but since I don't really know what that means, the expression offers little help? Do you cook it in some way or cut it up and throw it in with the other stuff you add to a salad. 

Protest Flags

 

I have been puzzled by this flag since I arrived in Kauai. I first saw a giant flag displayed in this manner and another green flag flying from the back of a giant pickup. I wish I had taken that photo. Yesterday we were driving in an area of the island where I saw several of these flags flown in this way and a few flown in what I believed to be the appropriate orientation. Dueling statements of some kind. Strangely, I have not seen the U.S. flag flown on private property.

I finally asked a coffee shop guy about the flag and while he did not offer a lot of information he did confirm that it was flown this way as a sign of distress. Google can be your friend and this is what I learned. The flag indicates some believe that Hawaii was illegally claimed and the islands were occupied by the United States. When flown in another location (I think it is the Big Island) the flag flown upside down disputes the presence of a large telescope on top of what is considered a sacred mountain. 

So, the flag flown in this fashion is a sign of distress related to the claim of local sovereignty. 

As seen on Triple-D

I suppose you know son Todd used to edit Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. That was before he made it big. Every time we visit an establishment advertising that it was seen on DDD, one of us will say - I wonder if Todd edited that program. I knew Hanalei Poke when it was only a food truck and I was certain I could claim it had been seen on GrabeTravels, but after long minutes of searching I have to admit while I really like this poke, this must be the first time I have recommended Hanalei Poke.

Poke is my favorite Hawaiian dish. It is raw cubed tuna mixed with sea weed and some other stuff. It is usually served in some kind of sauce over rice. I like my sauce with Wasabi and the wasabi sauce is what I remember from my first visit to Hanalei poke now a food stand with limited inside seating.